Roller skate



March 1937. w. o. WESTERDAHL 2,

ROLLER SKATE I Filed June 28, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 9, 1937. w, Q WESTERDAHL 2,073,435

ROLLER SKATE Filed June 28, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 14 Claims.

The present invention relates to a roller skate of the type where the foot plate or a frame carrying the same is adapted to be tilted laterally relatively to the wheels of the skate.

The invention, which has for its object to make the skate of the type in question steerable laterally, is principally characterized in that the foot plate or the frame carrying the same is, for the purpose of making the skate steerable, pivotally connected with a part adapted tobe turned laterally in a vertical plane, with which part is pivotally connected a horizontally rotatable part carrying the wheel axle, between which part and a fixed part of the skate is provided a positive guidance of such a nature that the same causes the horizontally rotatable part to turn together with the wheel axle when the part adapted to be turned laterally in a vertical plane is turned.

A condition for this is that the wheel axle of the one or both pairs of wheels shall be adapted to be turned laterally both in the horizontal and in the vertical direction. Considering this, the invention is further characterized by the feature that the part carrying the wheel axle is arranged relatively to the foot support and also with respect to the part adapted to be turned laterally in a vertical plane, in such a manner that the first-mentioned part may either be connected with the foot support to be positively guided, while being at the same time pivotally connected with the member adapted to be turned laterally in a vertical plane, or may be rigidly connected with the latter member and adapted to be released from the foot support to participate in the turning movement of such member.

The invention will be described more fully hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows the roller skate in a side View and Fig. .2 the same in a plan view looking from below. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section on the line III-III in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows the same cross section as Fig. 3, with the foot plate in a lateral position corresponding only to the vertical turn- 5 ing of the wheel axle relatively to the foot plate. Fig. 5 also shows the same cross section as Fig. 3, with the foot plate in a lateral position corresponding both to a horizontal and a vertical angular movement of the wheel axle relatively to the foot plate. Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section on line VIVI in Fig. 2. Fig. '7 shows a horizontal section on line VIIVII in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 shows a vertical section on line VIII-VIII in Fig. 6. Figs. 9 and 10 show a detail viewed in; two positions at right angles to each other,

The foot plateconsists in known manner of two members I and 2 adapted to be displaced relatively to each other in the longitudinal direction of the skate, said members being guided by rails 3 and 4 provided on the undersides of said members and running in one another. Projecting from the rear end of the member 2 is a heel support 5. The members I and 2 each form an attachment for one of the pairs of Wheels 29, 2 I, in connection with which the mechanisms carrying the wheel axles I9, the guiding means and the attachments connected with the members I and 2 are entirely alike in the example illustrated. One of these mechanisms will be described more closely hereinbelow with reference to the drawings. A fitting 6 pertaining to the front pair of wheels is secured to the fore part I of the foot plate I, 2. The lower straplike part of the fitting has two downwardly directed shanks 8 between which enter two shanks Ill projecting from a plate 9, these latter shanks and the shanks 8 having inserted therethrough the axle II about which the plate 9 may be turned laterallyto and fro. The turning movement is counteracted by two helical springs I2 coiled about the shaft II, each of said springs having one end disposed through an opening I3 in the fitting 6 while bearing with its other end against a projection I4 of the adjacent shank I9. Both springs I2 tend to keep the plate 9 with its shanks I0 in a middle position relatively to the fitting 6, that is to say, the springs always tend to return the parts 6 and 9 into the said middle position after the parts have been turned laterally relatively to each other.

Bearing on the upper side of the plate 9 is a plate I5 with depending lugs I6. Bearing against the lower side of the plate 9 is a plate I I which is also provided with depending lugs I8 bearing onthe inside of the lugs I6. All of the lugs I6 and I8 have the wheel axle I9 inserted therethrough, the wheels 20 being rotatably mounted on said axle by means of ball bearings, not shown. Both of the plates I5 and H are rotatable together with the wheel axle I9 extending through the lugs I6 and I8 about a central pin 2I extending through all of the plates I5, 9 and I1.

Bearing against the lower side of the plate I1 is a cap 22 entering between the lugs I8 of the plate, the wheel axle I9 being also extended through the wall portions of the cap bearing against the lugs I8. The wheel axle I9 connects the cap 22 with the plates I5 and H in such a mannerthat the cap 22 is compelled to participate in the rotary movement of the plates l5 and I! and of the axle l9.

A pin 23 (Fig. 7) is thrust into an opening in the wall of the cap 22 at right angles to the wheel axle l9, said pin being rotatable in the cap and having near one end a slot 24 extending all around, said slot receiving two projections 25 (Figs. 6 and 7) depending from the lower side of the plate I! and preventing the pin 23 from being pulled out of the cap. The portion of the pin 23 located outside the cap 22 forms a fork 26, a latch 21 (Figs. 9 and 10) entering between the shanks of said fork, said latch bearing on the outside of the one shank 8, along which it is displaceable while being guided. partly by the shaft I extending through a vertically longitudinal slot 28 in the latch, and partly by projections 29 projecting from the outside of the shank 8 In the position wherein the latch 27 is displaced into the fork 26 or retracted therefrom the latch is locked by the tightening of a wing nut 30 screwed onto shown in Fig. 6 the latch 21 enters the fork 26.

On the opposite side of the wheel axle l9 there is arranged within the cap 22, relatively to the pin 23, a latch 32 pivoted about a shaft 3|, the one end of said latch projecting through a slot 33 in the bottom of the cap 22, beneath which the latch 33 is accessible to be turned. When the latch is turned, its inner end either enters into or is retracted from three longitudinal slots 34, 35 and 36, of which the slot 35 is provided in the plate 9 and the slots 34 and 36 in the plates [5 and I1 respectively. In the position shown by full lines in Fig. 6, the latch enters the slots, in the position shown by chain-dotted lines it is retracted from the slots.

The shaft 3| about which. the latch 32 is pivoted is introduced with its ends through openings in the wall of the cap 22. The said openings are covered from the outside by the lugs l8 embracing the cap 22, which lugs therefore prevent longitudinal displacement of the shaft 3|. The shaft 3| consists of steel wire and is resiliently flexible. Thrust through the latch 32 is a cotter 31, which in the manner shown in Figs. 6 and 8 bears against the bottom of the cap 22 so that turning of the latch 32 is counteracted thereby. The turning movement is made possible, however, by the resilient shaft 3| yielding to the pressure ofthe cotter 37 when it slides on the bottom of the cap 22. In this manner the resilient shaft 3| in combination with the cotter 31 serves as a snap lock to retain the latch 32 in its I extreme positions.

The arrangement above described facilitates the use of the skate in substantially four different ways. In one case the foot plate may be maintained in rigid connection with the two wheel axles, that is to say in such a manner that the axles cannot be rotated either horizontally or vertically with respect to the foot plate, in the second case both wheel axles may be adjusted for a vertical turning movement laterally with respect to the foot plate, and in the third and fourth cases the one wheel axle or both wheel axles may be adjusted for a turning movement both vertically and horizontally relatively to the foot plate, the skate being thus rendered steer able in the manner considered by the invention.

The above-mentioned first case, that is to say when the wheel axles cannot be turned either vertically or horizontally relatively to the foot plate, is represented particularly in Fig. 6. Accordingto this figure, the part 6 connected .With

the foot plate is locked to the plate 9 by its shanks ID, in that the latch 21 displaceable along the shank 8 enters the fork 26. This latter, in turn, is locked by the cap 22 with its fork 26 being locked together with the plates l5 and I! to the plate 9 by means of the latch 32, which then enters the slots 34, 35 and 36 of said plates. A turning movement is thus prevented about the axle l as well as about the pin 2| extending through the plates l5, 9 and IT. The mechanism adjustable in the one or the other manner is the same both at the front pair of wheels and at the rear pair of wheels, and obviously the two mechanisms must be adjusted in the same manner in the case just described.

For the establishment of the second case, that is to say the turning of the wheel axles vertically and laterally with respect to the foot plate, which case is illustrated in Fig. '7, the nut 30 is loosened and the latch 2! displaced upwardly out of engagement with the fork 26, the same being secured in the upwardly displaced position by tightening the nut 30. The parts 8 and ID will thus be free to be turned relatively one another about the axle in the manner shown in Fig. 4, that is to say, the wheel axle l9 will be free to be turned laterally in a vertical plane relatively to the foot plate. In the latter case also the adjusting mechanisms obviously must be similarly adjusted both in the front pair of wheels and in the rear pair of wheels.

For the establishment of the third case, that is to say where the wheel axle will be adapted to be turned both horizontally and vertically with respect to the foot plate, the latch 21 is brought into engagement with the fork 26 and is locked by the nut 30. The latch 32 is then turned into the position shown by chain-dotted lines in Fig. 6, the latch being then retracted from the slots 34, 35 and 36, so that the plates l5 and I! together with the cap 22 and the wheel axle I9 will be rotatable about the pin 2|. If at the latter adjustment the wheel axle l9 will be acted upon, relatively to the foot plate, to be turned vertically in a lateral direction, such movement of the axle may take place without hindrance by the latch 21 entering the fork 26, but this latch will then act upon the parts l5, l1 and 22 rotatable about the pin 2| together with the axle IS, in such a manner that a horizontal turning movement relatively to the foot plate about the pin 2| is then also imparted to the axle, which results in that the axle is steered in the one or the other direction, depending on in what direction the foot plate is inclined relatively the axle. The tilting position thus produced is shown in Fig. 5. In the manner last described, only the one of the wheel axles, preferably the front axle, may be adjusted to bring about steering, in which case the rear wheel axle is adjusted only for a vertical turning movement laterally. For steering, however, the front axle as well as the rear axle may be adjusted simultaneously in the manner last described.

It will be understood that where the frame is specified in certain of the claims, the construction intended may consist of or comprise a foot plate.

What I claim is:-

1. In a roller skate, a frame, a part pivotally connected to said frame adapted to be turned laterally in a vertical plane, a horizontally rotatable part connected to said last-mentioned part, a wheel axle and wheels carried by said horizontallyv rotatable part, and steering connections between said frame andsaid horizontally rotatable part whereby the same causes the horizontally rotatable part to turn together with the wheel axle when the part adaptedto be turned 5 laterally in a vertical plane is turned.

2. A roller skate according to claim 1 wherein the steering connections may be rendered inoperative at will, and means for detachably securing said. horizontally rotatable part and said laterally l0 turning part against relative movement whereby the horizontally rotatable part may either be connected with the frame to be positively guided,

while being at the same time pivotally connected with the part adapted to be turned laterally, or

may be rigidly connected with the latter part and adapted to be released from the frame to participate in the turning movement of said latter part.

3. In a roller skate, a foot plate, a fitting secured to the under side thereof, a bracket pivotally connected to said fitting permitting rocking movement of the fitting on the bracket laterally in a substantially vertical plane, a wheel axle and wheels carried thereby, means connecting said wheel axle to said bracket for a swinging movement in a horizontal plane relative thereto,

and means for positively swinging said axle relative to said bracket upon rocking movement of said fitting on said bracket.

4. A roller skate according to claim 3 in which the means for positively swinging the axle relative to the bracket may optionally be rendered inoperative and means for locking said axle against said swinging movement relative to said bracket.

5. In a roller skate, a foot plate, a fitting rigidly carried on the under side thereof having spaced depending shanks, a bracket having spaced upstanding shanks overlapping the shanks on said fitting, a longitudinally extendng rock shaft extending through said shanks for pivotally connecting said fitting and bracket for relative lateral rocking movement, an axle mounting pivotally connected to said bracket for swinging movement in a substantially horizontal plane, an axle and wheels mounted thereon carried by said mounting, and means for effecting swinging movement of said axle mounting upon relative rocking movement between said fitting and bracket.

6. A roller skate according to claim 5, and spring means tending to maintain said fitting and bracket in a neutral position corresponding to a parallel position of the foot plate relative to the wheel axle.

'7. A roller skate according to claim 5, and helical springs surrounding the rock shaft each having one end engaging said fitting and the other end engaging said bracket, said springs tending to maintain said fitting and bracket in 0 a neutral position corresponding to a parallel position of the foot plate relative to the wheel axle.

8. In a roller skate according to claim5, said wheel axle mounting comprising a pair of super- 5 posed plates having spaced depending leg portions, a portion of said bracket being disposed between said plates, and a vertical pivot pin extending through said plates and bracket providing the pivotal connection between said 70 bracket and said mounting, the wheel axle extending through the depending legs of said plates.

9. In a roller skate according to claim 5, the means for effecting turning movement of said axle mounting comprising a lever extending therefrom 75 at substantially right angles to the axle, and a .receive the end of the other lever.

10. In a rollerskate according to claim 5, the

means for effecting swinging movementof the axlemounting upon relative rocking movement of said bracket andfitting being manually adjustable to an inoperative position at will, and manually controlled means for optionally locking saidaxle mountingagainst swinging movement relative to said bracket or releasing the same for swinging movement.

11. In a roller skate, a foot plate, a fitting rigidly secured to the under side thereof having spaced depending shanks, a bracket having spaced upstanding shanks overlapping the shanks on said fitting, a longitudinally extending rock shaft extending through said shanks for pivotal- 1y connecting said fitting and bracket for relative lateral rocking movement, an axle mounting including a pair of superposed plates with a portion of said bracket extending therebetween, a substantially vertical pivot pin extending through the base portions of said plates and the portion of the bracket received therebetween, said plates having spaced depending leg portions, a rimmed cap member disposed between said leg portions, a wheel axle extending through said leg portions and through the rim of said cap member, a rotatable pin carried by said cap and extending through the rim thereof at right angles to said axle, the protruding end of said pin having a forked end, an adjustable slotted latch lever carried by said fitting having a depending end portion adapted to engage the forked end of said rotatable pin, said rock shaft having one end extending through the slot in said latch lever and a nut threaded on said end for locking said lever in adjusted position.

12. In a roller skate according to claim 11, said plates and the portion of the bracket received therebetween having slots formed therein adapted to register with each other when the wheel axle is at right angles to the axis of the skate, and a manually operated latch carried by the cap member adapted in one position of adjustment to engage in said slots to lock said parts against turning movement and in another position of adjustment to be released from said slots to permit a turning movement of said axle mounting.

13. In a roller skate according to claim 11, said plates and the portion of the bracket received therebetween having slots formed therein adapted to registerwith each other when the wheel axle is at right angles to the axis of the skate, and a manually operated pivoted latch member mounted in the cap member adapted in one extreme position to engage in said registering slots to lock said parts against turning movement and in another extreme position tobe released from the slots to leave the axle mounting free to perform a turning movement, said latch being mounted on a resiliently flexible pivot and having a cross piece bearing on the bottom of the cap in such a manner that when the latch is operated, the cross piece exerts a pressure against the bottom of the cap and actuates the pivot of the latch so that the same is caused to yield and will thus form a snap lock in cooperation with the cross piece, said lock retaining the latch in its extreme positions.

14. In a roller skate, a foot plate, a fitting rigidly secured to the under side thereof having spaced depending shanks, a bracket having spaced upstanding shanks overlapping the shanks on said fitting, a longitudinally extending rock shaft extending through said shanks for pivotally connecting said fitting and bracket for relative lateral rocking movement, an axle mounting including a plate having laterally spaced depending leg portions, a substantially vertical pivot pin ex tending through said plate and a portion of said bracket for pivotally connecting said plate and bracket, a wheel axle extending through the depending shanks of said plates, said plate and a portion of the bracket having slots formed therein adapted register with each other when the wheel axle is at right angles to the axis of the skate; means for effecting turning movement of said axle n'iou'ntlng upon relative rocking movement between said fitting and bracket, and manuany operated latch means having a portion adapted to engage in said slots to lock said parts against turning movement or to be released therefrom to permit a turning movement of said axle mounting.

WILHELM OTTO WESTERDAHL. 

